Corn-planter.



No. 789,516. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. J. H. WILLIAMS.

CORN PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27,1904.

3 SHEETB--SHEET 1,

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No. 789,516. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. J. H. WILLAMS.

CORN PLANTER.

APPLIUATION FILED .TUNE 27, 1904y 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 789,516. PATENTED MAY 9, 1965.

` J. H. WILLIAMS.

CORN PLANTER.

APPLIUATION FILED TUNE 27, 1904:.

3 SHEESQEEET M y; "e/ f Gif/bmg.

lilrviirnn Frames Patented May 9, 1905.

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CORN-PLNTIEIZ?.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,516, dated May 9,1905.

Application filed 11u16 27, 1904. Serial No. 214,224.

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Be it known that '1, Jeun H. IVILLIAMs, a citizen of the United States,residing atIndian apolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented new and useful lmprovements in (Jorn-Planters; and VI dodeclare the following` to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, reference being' had to the accompan ying drawings, and tothe letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specilication.

'Ihis invention relates to machines for planting corn, and it hasreference particularly to the api/)aratus for dropping the corn into theground, to the running-gear, and to other features of lesser importance.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improvedcorn-planter especially adapted to plant corn in check-rows withoutrequiring the use of setavires for operating' check-rowdeviees on themachines, and other objects are to simplify the dropping apparatus tothe end that speed, accuracy, and economy in operation may be attained.

IV ith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in acorn-planter provided with rotative hill-spacers or wheels through whichthe corn may be dropped in regularly-spaced positions to form hills andwhich may be adapted to drop corn in rows.

The invention consists also in a truck for carrying the machine whileturning the same at the ends of rows, as well as carrying it onhighways; and the invention consists, further, in the novel parts and inthe combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter particu*larly described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine inwhich minor parts are omitted, one marker being' in operative positionand the other marker elevated; Fig. 2, a fragmentary detail view as atthe line 1 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a fragmentary detail view as at the line tin Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a side elevation of the machine, omitting minorparts; Fig. 5, a fragmentary detail view showing a reversible ratchetfor operating the carryingtruck; Fig. G, a vertical longitudinalsectional view at the line 5 5 in Fig. 1; Fig. 7, a rear elevation ofthe machine; Fig. 8, a vertical longitudinal sectional view as at theline 2 Q in Fig. I1; Fig. S), a vertical longitudinal sectional view asat the line #11 in Fig. 1 lool(- ing toward the right-hand side of themachine; Fig. 10, a vertical longitudinal sectional view centrally ofone of the sets of spacing and dropping apparatus; Fig. 11, a verticaltransverse sectional view on the line (I 6 in Fig. 10; Fig. IQ, afragmentary vertical sectional detail view showing one of the plowshanlis and supports; Fig. 3, a front elevation of one of theseed-dropping devices that removes the corn from the seed box; Fig. 14,a horizontal transverse sectional view as on the line T 7 in Fig. A1 0;Fig. 15, a side elevation of one of the seed-dropping devices; Fig. 16,a side elevation of one of the seedboxes; Fig. 17, a fragn'ientarydetail view showing the scraping apparatus for the hill-spacers, andFig. 18 is a perspective view of a part of a seed-drop ping device.

Similar reference characters designate like parts in the several Iiguresof the drawings.

In a practical embodiment of the invention a suitable main frame isprovided that is designed to be carried in an al'iproximately horizontalposition when the machine is in use, the frame comprising side bars (tand a center bar c, a tail-bar d, cross-bars v and f, and intermediatebars lf/ and /1., all suitably secured together, and a tongue or pole v'is attached to the frame to be supported at its forward end by horses inthe usual manner, the tongue supporting the forward portions of themachine and serving to guide the machine.

The side bars t and are each provided with a journal-box, as y', and anaXle A is rotatively mounted in the pair of journal-Mixes. Thehill-spacers are formed as wheels l and B, both alike and adapted foruse at opposite sides of the machine, and they carry the machine. Bothwheels are secured IiXedly to the axle A, so that they must move inunison and with the axle. The seed-corn that is to be planted passesthrough channels `in the wheels and out of openings in the peripheriesof the wheels, so that the hills will be equidistant apart in rows. Twoopenings may be pro- IOO vided in a wheel of convenient size incircumference, and it will be understood that sufliciently-large wheelsmay have three or more openings and suitable channels leading to theopenings.

Each wheel, as B or B', comprises a hub that is secured to the axle A,and a plui'ality of spokes Z, secured to the hub, the spokes being bentoutwardly at their ends and provided near their ends with lateral lipsm. Short Spokes 71 similar to the end portions of the spokes Z, haveeach a lateral lip p, secured suitably to the lip m of a spoke Z, thespokes a extending' a short distance toward the axis of the hub 1. Aweb-plate q is secured to the inner sides of the spokes Z, and aweb-plate r is secured to the inner sides of the spokes 71, there beinga space between the two webplates, so that the wheel is practicallyhollow. An inclined face-tire ,s is secured to the spokes a, and asimilar tire t is secured to the spokes Z.

The seedboxes C and C (a box being provided for each wheel B and B') areeach circular in form, an upper portion being' removable, as a lid a, inorder to gain access to the interior and devices inclosed therein. Thelid u has a hopper o and is provided with a guard fw, and in the lid isan openinga, through which the corn may be dropped. The box has axialbearings 8 and 9, embracing the axle A, the latter supporting' bothboxes and rotating in their bearings. Specifically, hcwever, as may beseen in Fig. 11, the inner end of the hub intervenes between the axleand one of the box-bearings as a matter of convenience, and on the innerend of the hub within the box a seed-dropper D or D is iixedly secured,so as to move in unison with the wheel and the axle, the box being'positioned partly within the hollow wheel against the web and partlyoutside the wheel, tting in the central opening that is provided in theweb y'. The opening a' is opposite the seed-dropper and the spacebetween the wheel-webs. Each seeddropper D and D has two pockets y/ andI/ in itsperiphery for lifting the corn from the box and dropping itthrough the opening' However, there may be as many pockets as there arechannels in the wheel and openings in the periphery of the wheel.

Each wheel B and B has a removable curved partition E and a similarpartition E extending' between the web-plates Z and fr thereof andsomewhat close at their middle portions to the seedbox, the ends of thepartitions near the periphery of the wheel being nearly together and theopenings between them partially closed by gates F and F', the end 10 ofeach partition being stationary and the adjacent end of the oppositepartition being' provided with a gate F or F in engagement therewith andsecured adjustably with respect to the end 10, so that the outlet fromthe channel formed by the partitions and the exterior of the seedbox maybe more or less restricted.

In order to vary the amount of corn that may be deposited in each hill,the pockets in the seed-dropper are each provided with an adjustablehood .e or e", that forms the outer wall of the pocket, and thereby thedepth of the pocket may be varied, so that a greater or less number ofgrains may be lifted in a pocket, as may be found desirable.

The seedbox C is provided with a controlling-lever G, cooperating with alatch-bar H, and the box C is provided with a similar lever G',cooperating with a bar H, the levers having latches 12, adapted to enterholes 14 in the latch-bars, the latter being connected to the main frameby pivots l5.

The wheels B and B are provided with markers 13 to indicate where thecorn may have been dropped into the ground; but these may in some casesbe omitted.

At the rear corners of the main frame are vertical posts I and 1',extending above and below the frame and fixed thereto, the posts beingsuitably braced, so as to form markersupports. Marker-poles J J,carrying markers K K, are pivoted to the lower ends of the posts I l, sothat the poles may be elevated. The markers are provided with draft-ropes 16, that are connected to the main fi'ame of the machine.Pulleys 17 and 18 are mounted at the tops of the posts 1 1, and cables LL are attached to the marker-poles and run over the pulleys to reels Mand M, that are mounted rotatively on a shaft 19, that is mounted on theforward part of the main frame, the cable L being' secured to the reel Mand the cable L to the reel M. Each reel is provided with a lever 20,that extends forwardly when the marker is on the ground and rearwardlywhen the marker is elevated. Suitable latches 21 are provided forholding the levers in their rearward position. Guide-pulleys, as 22 andlOO 23, are provided at the rear bar Z of the frame for guiding thecables L and L.

Forward of the wheels B B are housings N N, secured to the main frameand having guides 2li and 25, in which plow-Shanks O O are adj ustablysupported, a plow P being secured to the lower end of each shank, theupper portion of each shank having holes 26 therein to receive a latchbolt 27, that is mounted in each guide 24. Each bolt 27 is provided witha spring 28, that normally holds the bolt in a hole 26. Each shank isprovided with a handle 29 for lifting' the plows dui'ing verticaladjustments thereof. The plows P are adapted to open furrows in theground to receive the corn.

At the rear of the main frame a scraperframe Q is supported pivotal] ythereby and carries Scrapers R R', arranged so as to engage the tires ofthe wheels B B when the soil may be inclined to stick to the tires, theScrapers being' brought into operative positions by means of afoot-lever 30, mounted on the bar c, and a link 31, connected to thelever IIO reame andthe trame Q, the scrapers ordinarily hanging' awayfrom the wheels.

in order to lift the wheels B B from the ground and to turn the machineabout and again set the wheels B B in proper positions Yfor properlyspacing' corn lor hills, a truck is provided that is ordinarily carriedabove g'round by the machine, although the wheels of the truck may beallowed to roll on the ground, if desired. The truck comprises a pair ofarms S and S', journaled to the axle A, the arms extending beyond theaxle and being' provided with curved rack-bars l T. A shalt 32 iscarried by the lower ends oi' the arms, and a pair of wheels 33 and 34are journaled on the shai't. A shaft` 35 is mounted rotatively on themain frame, and a pair of pinions U and U' are secured to the shaft inengagement with the rack-bars, so that when the piuions are locked thearms S S will be held in the positions in which they may be placed. Forcontrolling' the pinions,and thereby the arms, a toothed wheel V issecured to the shaft 35, and a ratchet-lever lV is journaled on thesha'lt and provided with a reversible pawl X, pressed by a spring 36into engag'ement with the wheel V, the pawl having a handle 37 forreversing' the pawl as well as tor setting the pawl so as to not contactwith the wheel, in the usual manner. A latch Y is provided adapted toengage the wheel V, and the latch is normally held in engagement withthe wheel by a suitable spring 38. A foot-lever Z is attached to thelatch for disengaging the same `from the wheel.

,lt is designed to provide each machine with a pair ot' devices similarto the droppers D and lD in all respects except that as many pockets 1/as possible will be provided, so that corn may be dropped almostcontinuously thereby and operate to drill the corn or other seed inrows, it being necessary in suoli case to substitute these devices 'forthose having but two or three pockets and to remove the partitions E andE and the gates F and lW from the wheels Yl B', permitting the seeds tobe scattered between the web-plates oit' the wheels. Other obviousmodifications may also be made.

ln practical use the corn will be scooped up in the pockets l/ 7/ fromthe scedboxes while the droppers .D D/ rotate with the wheels B B, andwhen each pocket is at the opening' a' in the top of the seedbox thecorn will drop out of the pocket into the channel at the front ot' thebox and pass between the end l0 and the opposite gate into the ground,the tires s and z covering the corn in their passage over the ground. loprevent dropping' of the corn,

the levers G and G are to be manipulated so as to tilt the scedboxes,and thus bring the opening's fr entirely above the droppers, so that thecorn when falling out of the pockets will drop into thc boxes and notpass out ci' the openings. The positions oi the hills will be indicatedby the markers '13, so that they maybe found, it' desired, especially instarting to plant in new rows. At the end ot each pair ot' rows plantedthe lever lV is to be operated so as to move the arms S and S tovertical positions and the wheels 33 and 3ft onto the ground, thuselevating' the wheels B and B from the ground. Then the machine may bereadily turned about and the wheels B and B be properly positioned andlowered again onto the ground. Other manipulations will be obviouslyunderstood in connection with the description ol2 the construction andfunctions of the several parts, the machines being' in other respectsoperated somewhat as other planters heretofore in use.

Ilaving thus described the invention, what I claim as new isv 1. Acorn-planter including a main frame, an axle journaled to the frame,carryingwhecls secured to thelaxle, scedboxes journaled on the axle andadjustable relatively to the 'trame and provided withcontrolling-levers, latches mounted on the Frame and engaged by thelevers, rotative seed-droppers mounted in the scedboxes and having'pockets for discharging' the seed Vfrom the scedboxes, and means forconveying the seed from the seed-droppers to the ground.

2. A corn-planter including' a main trame, an axle jonrnaled to theframe, a pair oi carrying-wlieels secured to the axle and having'channels therein provided with opel'iings at the wheel-peripheries, apair ot scedboxes mounted rotatively on the axle and provided withcontrolling-levers, latches for the levers, and seed-droppers mounted inthe boxes rotative in unison with the wheels and having pockets forconveying the corn from the boxes to the channels in the wheels.

3. A corn-planter including a main frame, an axle journaled to thetrame, carryingwheels secured to the axle, scedboxes mounted on the axleand adjustable relatively to the main frame and having(.lischarg'e-apertures in the upper portions thereof, and rotativeseed-droppers mounted on the axle in the scedboxes and having' pocketsfor lifting and dropping the seeds through the dischargeapertures.

4. Acorn-planter including' scedboxes having discharge-apertures in theupper portions thereof, seed-droppers in the scedboxes and havingpockets for elevating the seed to the discharge-apertures, an axleextending through the scedboxes and the seed-droppers therein andjournaled in the scedboxes, adjustable means connected to the scedboxesand normally holding the same against rotation thereol, means forrotating the seed-droppers, wheels secured to the axle and having'seedchannels therein, and a main frame mounted on the axle.

IOO

5. A corn-planter including' a main frame, an axle journaled to theframe, a pair of ear' lying-"wheels secured to the axle and having'channels therein provided with openings at the wheel-peripheries, gatesfor adjusting' the opening's of the channels, seedboxes mounted on theaxle and provided with controlling devices, and seed-droppers mounted inthe boxes rotative in unison with the wheels and having' pockets forconveying' the seeds from the boxes to the channels in the wheels.

G. A corn -planter including carryingwheels, an axle secured to thewheels, seedboxes mounted on the axle, seed -droppers mounted on theaxle in the seedboxes, a main frame mounted on the axle, a pair of armsjournaled between their ends on the axle and provided at their upperends with rack-bars and at their lower ends with wheels, a rotativeshaft journaled on the main frame parallel to the axle, pinions securedto the rotative shaft and engaging the rack-bars, a toothed wheelsecured to the rotative shaft between the pinions, a ratchet-leverpivoted on the rotative shaft and having' a pawl cooperating with thetoothed wheel, and a latch mounted on the main frame in engagement withthe toothed wheel and having' a foot-lever connected therewith.

7. A corn-planter including' a main frame, an axle journaled to theframe, a pair of carrying-wheels secured to the axle and having channelstherein provided with openings at .the wheel-peripheries, gates forrestricting to the channels in the wheels, and means for varying thecapacities of the pockets.

8. In a corn-planter, the combination of planting-wheels and devicescomprising each a hub, a plurality of long spokes attached to the hub, atire secured to the long' spokes, a plurality of relatively short spokesconnected rig'idly t'o the long' spokes and extending' toward the hubbut not connected directly thereto, a tire attached to the short spokes,an outer web-plate secured to the long spokes, and an inner web-platehaving a central aperture therein and secured to the short spokes, aseedbox arranged in the aperture of the inner web-plate and having' adischarge-aperture inthe upper portion thereof, a circular seed-dropperin the seedbox, an axle secured to the hub and extending' through andsupporting' the seedbox and the seed-dropper independently, theseed-dropper being rotative with the axle, and a controlling-leverattached to the seedbox.

9. In a corn-planter, the combination of a planting-wheel having a pairof opposing' curved partitions therein, an axle secured to the wheel, aseedbox having' a discharge-aperture in the upper portion thereof,controlling' means attached to the seedbox preventing rotation thereof,and a seeddropper mounted on the axle rotative therewith and providedwith pockets in the periphery thereof, with a main frame mounted on theaxle, and a latch mounted on the main frame and engaged by thecontrolling' means.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. VILLIAMS.

lVitnesses:

XVM. H. PAYNE, E. T. SILvIUs.

